News

India’s rising temperatures are worsening its dengue crisis

Source: Quartz India, 2 November 2017

Even as several parts of India are in the grip of severe dengue outbreaks, a team of researchers has found clues to why the mosquito-borne disease might be spreading across the country faster than before. The answer lies in increased temperatures, according to a study published in the journal Science Advances.

Climate change taking a toll on global health: Lancet

Source: The Hindu, 31 October 2017

New research published by The Lancet medical journal states that on an average there has been a 5.3% fall in productivity for rural labour estimated globally since 2000, as a result of rising temperatures around the world. In 2016, this took more than 9,20,000 people globally out of the workforce, with 4,18,000 of them in India alone.

PM2.5 air pollution caused half a million premature Indian deaths in 2015: Lancet study

Source: Live Mint, 30 October 2017

More than half a million Indians are estimated to have died prematurely in 2015 due to particulate matter (PM) 2.5 air pollution, according to a new Lancet report that highlights the significant public health risks from climate change.

Pollution kills more people than war, hunger, natural disasters

Source: Wisconsin Gazette, 25 October 2017

Environmental pollution — from filthy air to contaminated water — is killing more people every year than all war and violence in the world. More than smoking, hunger or natural disasters. More than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.

The Link between Climate Change and Farmers’ Mental Health We Never Knew Existed

Source: YKA, 24 October 2017

Today’s climate change rhetoric is mainly focused on carbon emissions, renewable energy and international politics. Consequentially, the impact of climate change on health has received relatively low attention. Even less research has been done on the impact of climate change on the mental health of the population.

A Comprehensive Study Of Air Pollution In India

Source: YKA, 23 October 2017

The 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranked India 141 out of 180 countries surveyed. EPI is unique in its approach because it incorporates many high-priority environmental issues, including resource consumption, depletion of environmental assets, pollution, and species loss among other important topics.

Source: News Minute, 20 October 2017

The 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranked India 141 out of 180 countries surveyed. EPI is unique in its approach because it incorporates many high-priority environmental issues, including resource consumption, depletion of environmental assets, pollution, and species loss among other important topics.

Maharashtra nod for Climate Change Policy

Source: DNA India, 12 October 2017

To mitigate the impact of climate change on Maharashtra, the state cabinet on Tuesday approved a climate change adaption policy for the creation of environment-friendly cities and villages. It also approved the setup of a special cell in the state environment department to monitor the implementation of this policy.

Cabinet Reassigns Health Secretary as Part of Reshuffle of Top-level Bureaucrats

Source: ET Bureau, 12 October 2017

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has reassigned health ministry secretary CK Mishra with immediate effect as part of a reshuffle of top-level government officials on Wednesday. Current food and public distribution department secretary Preeti Sudan will replace him.

How climate change is fueling wildfires and threatening human health

Source: Yale Climate Connections, 11 October 2017

Residents of Portland, Oregon, knew they were in trouble when the sky got so hazy from smoke that the sun turned red. For weeks, people like Michelle Nicola, a Portland middle school teacher, lived enshrouded in smoke from a nearby wildfire.

New Research reveals that even Health Foods are now affected by Climate Change

Source: The InQuisitr, 19 September, 2017

The issue of climate change has become increasingly more serious over the past few years, with scientists continuing to implore those denying the impact to wake up and realize the severity of the situation. New research has recently come to light which proves that the problem at hand is only worsening, with previously approved health foods now being considered as not much better than the average snack food a person consumes.

Climate Change and Health Impacts

Source: The Nation, 18 September, 2017

In recent times, human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels have released sufficient quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to trap additional heat in the lower atmosphere thereby affecting the climate.

Climate Change and Health Impacts

Source: The Nation, 18 September, 2017

In recent times, human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels have released sufficient quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to trap additional heat in the lower atmosphere thereby affecting the climate.

How Climate Change affects Mental Health

Source: The Washington Post, 18 September, 2017

AS STAKEHOLDERS continue to plan how to deal with climate change, recent findings show that the public also has to be aware of its effect on mental health. A report by the American Psychological Association, Climate for Health, and EcoAmerica revealed that climate change impacts mental health directly and indirectly. For instance, associated extreme events such as typhoons and heavy rainfall episodes have resulted in more cases of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) among survivors.

Next wave of EPA science advisers could include those who question Climate Change

Source: The Washington Post, 18 September, 2017

People who have questioned aspects of mainstream climate research appear on a list of 132 possible candidates for positions on EPA’s influential Science Advisory Board, which the agency has opened for public comment until September 28. The board currently has 47 members, but 15 have terms ending in September and could be replaced by some of the candidates.

What Effects does Climate Change have on Soil Health & the Future of Food?

Source: Clean Technica, 18 September, 2017

Global temperatures increasing steadily at their fastest rates in millions of years? Very scary. Glaciers calving and collapsing into the sea? Hard to miss. The Atlantic Ocean lapping down the streets of Miami? Front page news almost everywhere.

Climate Change and Health in Nigeria

Source: Tribune, 14 September, 2017

With 173 million people, Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa. As the continent’s main exporter of oil, Nigeria faces the challenge of balancing global energy demands and domestic economic stability with the need to address climate and environmental considerations.

Health Agencies Need Help Preparing for Climate Change

Source: NRDC, 14 September, 2017

Public health officials in the United States have their hands full responding to climate-related disasters, and there’s no end in sight. In the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, several southeastern states have public health emergencies due to sewage-laden floodwaters, debris covered in mold, toxic industrial air releases and chemical spills, and more.

Source: The Conversation, 12 September, 2017

Drones are helping scientists check the health of Antarctic mosses, revealing clues on the pace of climate change. Mosses are sensitive to even minor changes in their living conditions, and scientists traditionally tramped through difficult terrain to collect data on them.

Hurricane Irma is now a killer storm as track targets Florida

Source: Miami Herald, 07 September, 2017

Hurricane Irma is now a killer storm, leaving at least eight people dead in the Caribbean as the storm continues on a destructive path on the way to Florida. Irma has so far battered Barbuda, St. Martin and the British Virgin Islands, according to reports. Exactly where in Florida Irma would hit was still not known, according to the National Hurricane Center’s advisory at 5 a.m. Thursday.

It Took This Coal Miner 14 Years to Secure Black Lung Benefits. How Come?

Source: Inside the Climate News, 07 September, 2017

Retired coal miner Bethel Brock proudly shows the vegetable garden where he grows potatoes, onions, corn, butter beans and other greens for the dinner table. He's in that patch nearly every day hoeing, shoveling—and struggling just to breathe. Brock, a soft-spoken 77-year-old, has black lung disease from decades working in the coal fields of Virginia. When his chest constricts and he becomes so winded that he can no longer stand, he slowly folds his body like a collapsing accordion, feeling more dread than discomfort.

Deforestation has double the effect on global warming than previously thought

Source: International Business Times, 06 September, 2017

In the fight against climate change, much of the focus rests on reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and developing alternative energy sources. However, the results of a new study suggest that far more attention should be paid to deforestation and how the land is used subsequently – the effects of which make a bigger contribution to climate change than previously thought.

Melting permafrost in the Arctic is unlocking diseases and warping the landscape

Source: Vox, 06 September,2017

You can find evidence of a changing climate everywhere on Earth. But nowhere are the changes more dramatic than in the Arctic. Our world’s northern polar region is warming twice as fast as the global average. And the consequences are easy to spot. On average, Arctic sea ice extent is shrinking every summer. The Greenland ice sheet is becoming unstable.

Source: Climate News Network, 04 September, 2017

How to offset Trump's climate science ignorance – plant 10bn trees

Source: The Guardian, August 28, 2017

A campaign to plant enough trees to offset Donald Trump’s climate policies is under way. Organisers hope to plant 10bn trees by 24 December 2017, with the last one being a Christmas tree planted in front of the White House.

How climate change is a 'death sentence' in Afghanistan's highlands

Source: The Guardian, August 28, 2017

The central highlands of Afghanistan are a world away from the congested chaos of the country’s cities. Hills roll across colossal, uninhabited spaces fringed by snow-flecked mountains, set against blistering blue skies.

Source: PRI, August 26, 2017

Why the IPA's claim global warming is natural is 'junk science

Source: The Guardian, August 25, 2017

People who work for climate science denial thinktanks tend not to spend all that much time worrying about getting stuff into scientific journals. Perhaps because it’s easier, people who are paid to tell the public and policy makers that human-caused climate change is overblown bunk would rather pump out newspaper columns, do softball interviews or push out their own self-published reports. There’s a lot less scrutiny in that kind of public relations.

Source: Times of India, July 6, 2017

Union Environment minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said had India continued with its culture of environment protection it would have set a big example before the world. Terming the present condition of our forests, rivers, air and land as a "matter of serious concern for us", he said our modern lifestyle is responsible for this.

Source: Times of India, July 6, 2017

Union Environment minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said had India continued with its culture of environment protection it would have set a big example before the world. Terming the present condition of our forests, rivers, air and land as a "matter of serious concern for us", he said our modern lifestyle is responsible for this.

Climate change “will hurt US economy, increase inequality” - study

Source: Eco Business, July 5, 2017

The United States economy will suffer if climate change continues unabated, with poorer and warmer parts of the country paying the heaviest price, researchers said on Thursday. Every 1 degree Celsius rise in global temperatures will cost the United States as a whole about 1.2 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product, researchers said in the journal Science.

Climate change played a role in Europe's scorching June - study

Source: Reuters, June 30, 2017

Man-made climate change contributed to scorching heat across Western Europe this month, when Portugal suffered deadly forest fires and many nations sweltered under record-breaking temperatures, scientists said on Thursday.

Ice-free areas of Antarctica to increase by 2100: Study

Source: Press Trust in India, June 29, 2017

Ice-free areas may increase in Antarctica by 25 per cent due to climate change, leading to drastic changes in the continent's biodiversity, a study warns. Researchers, including those from University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia, investigated how ice-free areas in Antarctica may be affected by climate change.

Source: TheIndian Express, June 29, 2017

“The culture of not doing duty should end,” the Delhi High Court said on Wednesday while directing civic bodies to undertake various measures to address the issue of garbage disposal which, in turn, has resulted in the spread of vector-borne diseases. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said there should be both short-term measures and a long-term action plan. Elaborating on the measures, the court said a location and time-wise works roster, as well as the identity of each cleaning staff or safai karamchaari, should be put up on the website of the corporations.

New study finds tree line not expanding with global warming

Source: Times of India, June 28, 2017

A new study has debunked a widely-held belief in the scientific community that global warming would cause the tree line -- the mountain zone after which trees stop growing -- to advance upslope.
The initial findings of the research, which is being conducted under the National Mission for Himalayan Studies implemented by the ministry of environment, forest & climate change, suggest that with increase in global temperatures, tree lines were not shifting to higher elevations. Researchers said that one reason could be that warmer temperatures were leading to drier conditions which negatively affected seed survival.

Climate change may lead to 2 billion refugees by 2100: Study

Source: PTI, June 27, 2017

One-fifth of the world's population - about two billion people - could become climate change refugees by the year 2100 due to rising ocean levels, a study warns. Those who once lived on coastlines will face displacement and resettlement bottlenecks as they seek habitable places inland, researchers said.

Paris deal would have given India and China free pass: Mike Pence

Source: Times of India, June 21, 2017

The Paris climate deal would have given a virtual free pass to India and China and cost American economy more than 6.5 million jobs, US Vice President Mike Pence said on Wednesday. "This President put America first not long ago when President Trump made the decision to withdraw the United States of America from the Paris Climate Accord," Pence said in his remarks to the National Association of Manufacturers 2017 Manufacturing Summit.

Exxon, BP Support Republican Elders' Climate Proposal

Source: Reuters, June 20, 2017

Major oil companies like Exxon Mobil and BP Plc have thrown their support behind a carbon tax plan proposed by a group of elder Republican statesmen, according to an advertisement published in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.

Expedite Emission Norms for Thermal Power Plants, say Citizens

Source: DNA India, June 20, 2017

Sixty three signatories from civil society organisations, medical professionals and concerned citizens all over India have written to the Minister of Environment Forest and Climate Change, urging implementation of new norms for emission standards and water use of the coal fired thermal power plants.

PM affirms India's commitment to Paris climate deal

Source: Business Standard, June 19, 2017

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today talked to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and reaffirmed India's commitment to take forward the Paris climate agreement. Trudeau had called up Modi this evening where the issue of Paris agreement came up for discussion. Sharing details of the conversation through the prime minister's Twitter handle, the PMO said the two exchanged views on developments of mutual interest, specifically climate change.

Too Hot to Handle: Study Shows Earth's killer Heat Worsens

Source: Times of India, June 19, 2017

Killer heat is getting worse, a new study shows. Deadly heat waves like the one now broiling the American West are bigger killers than previously thought and they are going to grow more frequent, according to a new comprehensive study of fatal heat conditions. Still, those stretches may be less lethal in the future, as people become accustomed to them.

Source: DNA India, June 19, 2017

In a letter to parliament Economic Affairs Minister Henk Kamp said recent commitments by heavy industry, on top a late government push to increase renewable energy investment had made it likely the target, agreed under the Kyoto Protocol, would be met.

JSW-The Times of India 8th edition calls out green warriors to apply for Earth Care Awards

Source: The Economics Times, June 16, 2017

In a letter to parliament Economic Affairs Minister Henk Kamp said recent commitments by heavy industry, on top a late government push to increase renewable energy investment had made it likely the target, agreed under the Kyoto Protocol, would be met.

Exhibition on Wheels to Raise Awareness on Climate Change

Source: The Hindu, June 15, 2017

Science Express,’ a mobile exhibition focusing on climate change, will arrive at Puducherry railway station on Thursday. Billed as a treasure trove of knowledge for children and elders alike, the “Science Express,” which features various aspects of climate change impact, including nature conservation, advancements in biotechnology applications and international climate change negotiations, will be on display at the railway station here on Thursday and Friday.

Source: Cambridge News, June 15, 2017

The Cambridge scientist who warned the Fens could be under water by the end of the Century says it's time for younger generation to take a stand on climate change. British Antarctic Survey oceanographer Dr Emily Shuckburgh, OBE, says trying to lower our individual carbon footprint is important, but the number one thing people can do to make a real difference is vote. She also hit out at British politicians for failing to put the issue on the agenda, and singled out US President Donald Trump for his dismissal of the Paris Agreement earlier this month.

Why California's Climate Change Fight Is Also About Public Health

Source: Time USA, June 15, 2017

Even before President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the Paris Agreement, California Governor Jerry Brown loved to talk about climate change and his efforts to create what he calls "the most integrated policy to deal with climate change of any political jurisdiction in the Western Hemisphere."
But in California addressing climate change isn't just about saving the world from rising sea levels, intense heat and extreme weather events. Environmental policy experts say the state's aggressive global warming program will also help solve a longstanding public health problem.

Tester on Russia, health care and climate change

Source: NBC Montana, June 15, 2017

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana) recently participated in a Q&A with NBC Montana to discuss his thoughts on Russia, the Paris Climate Accord, health care and U.S. Rep.-elect Gianforte. NBC Montana: Missing the "Super Bowl of politics." What do you make of the hearing today and what we already learned from Mr. Comey's written testimony? How does it impact Montanans? Sen. Tester: I think it's incredibly important we get to the bottom of it. If we don't have faith in our election systems as Montanans, we're going to see even less people vote than as before.

No Sign of Healing in G7 Climate Change Rift

Source: ET News, June 12, 2017

The United States’ partners in the G7 club of wealthy democracies vowed Sunday to pursue efforts to curb climate change despite a rift caused by the American withdrawal from the Paris accord. "G7 countries have crucial roles and responsibilities to our own public opinion, to developing countries and to the planet," Italy’s Environment Minister Gian Luca Galletti said at a twoday meeting of G7 environmental chiefs in Italy. "The international community awaits our message."

Germany, California to tackle climate change together

Source: Reuters, June 10, 2017

Germany is teaming up with California to cooperate on tackling climate change following the U.S. government's decision to withdraw from the 2015 Paris agreement. Europe's largest economy and the biggest U.S. state in economic terms will back the work of the "Under 2 Coalition," which includes cities, regional governments and states, German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks said on Saturday. "We cannot achieve our climate goals without the engagement of local and regional communities. That has become even clearer after the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement," Hendricks said after agreeing on the joint approach with California Governor Edmund Brown in San Francisco.

Climate change is catching up with gardeners: just look at the Chelsea flower show

Source: The Guardian, June 9, 2017

It hit me like a smack in the face. This year’s RHS Chelsea flower show was quite blatant in showcasing the effects of climate change; you may not have noticed though. Most people visiting the show or tuning into the BBC coverage were homed in on the increasingly more naturalistic planting style, the reduced number of large show gardens and the amazing lupins.

Study: India's rising temperatures are already deadly

Source: Abc news, June 7 2017

India is now two and a half times more likely to experience a deadly heat wave than a half century ago, and all it took was an increase in the average temperature of just 0.5 degrees Celsius (less than 1 degree Fahrenheit), according to a study published Wednesday.
The findings are especially sobering considering that the world is on track for far more warming by the end of this century. In just the last two weeks, much of Asia has been gripped by a heatwave that saw Pakistan register a record 53.5 C (128.3 F) in the southern city of Turbat on May 28 — the world's hottest temperature ever recorded in the month of May. Temperatures in the Indian capital of New Delhi have soared beyond 44 C (111 F).

Source: Science Daily, June 7 2017

If projections for melting Antarctic sea ice through 2100 are correct, the vanishing landscape will strip Emperor penguins of their breeding and feeding grounds and put populations at risk. But like other species that migrate to escape the wrath of climate change, can these iconic animals be spared simply by moving to new locations?

Domes of frozen methane may be warning signs for new blow-outs

Source: Science Daily, June 5 2017

Every year we go back to the dome area with our research vessel, and every year I am anxious to see if one of these domes has become a crater," says lead author of the study Pavel Serov, PhD candidate at CAGE at UiT The Arctic University of Norway.
These domes are the present-day analogue to what scientists think preceded the craters found in the near-by area, which were recently reported in Science. The craters were formed as the ice sheet retreated from the Barents Sea during the deglaciation some 12,000 years ago.

Increased risk of ozone loss over the United States in summer, evidence shows

Source: Science Daily, June 5 -2017

If projections for melting Antarctic sea ice through 2100 are correct, the vanishing landscape will strip Emperor penguins of their breeding and feeding grounds and put populations at risk. But like other species that migrate to escape the wrath of climate change, can these iconic animals be spared simply by moving to new locations?

Climate change will make people sicker. Trump is pulling out of Paris anyway.

Source: vox.com, June 1, 2017

President Donald Trump is making good on his campaign promise to pull the US out of the Paris climate agreement — a move that’s been called a moral disgrace and that’s expected to hinder much needed progress in the fight against global warming. A failure to tackle climate change will mean more extreme weather, dirtier air and water, and more food shortages. It’ll also mean more disease.

Amash Grilled on Health Care and Climate Change

Source: Roll Call, June 1, 2017

Michigan Rep. Justin Amash was grilled by constituents at a town hall meeting about climate change and health care in Byron Township. Amid speculation that President Donald Trump will pull out of the Paris Accords to curb climate change, Amash said the accords should have had a Senate vote.“It’s a treaty and it should be put forward for ratification. There should be debate in the Senate,” WZZM 13 reported Amash as saying.

A Changing Climate Threatens Our Health

Source: AAFP, June 1, 2017

Climate change is happening now, and this has profound implications not just for the planet, but for our health.
As the continued burning of fossil fuels releases gases into our atmosphere, the planet continues to warm. By trapping solar radiation and preventing it from being reflected back into deep space, these gases function like a greenhouse to warm the planet. Many of these gases comprise just a small fraction of the atmosphere, so even a small change in their concentration has a relatively large impact on the overall climate. For example, carbon dioxide (CO2) accounts for just 0.04 percent of our atmosphere, but that is a 45 percent increase from preindustrial levels and represents a concentration not seen on Earth for the past 800,000 years.

Scientists are testing a “vaccine” against climate change denial

Source: vox.com, May 31, 2017

In the battle between facts and fake news, facts are at a disadvantage. Researchers have found that facts alone rarely dislodge misperceptions, and in some cases even strengthen mistaken beliefs.
That’s just as true for climate change as it is for any other politically polarized issue in the US. The theory of identity-protective cognition, developed by Yale Law professor Dan Kahan, holds that we subconsciously resist any facts that threaten our defining values — and better reasoning skills may make us even better at resisting.

Oxygen levels in Arabian Sea falling, to hit fish growth

Source: The Times of India, 12th May, 2017

With the Indian Ocean warming, the Arabian Sea has seen severe depletion of oxygen rich water, sparking concern among scientists and researchers that fish breeding cycles could get affected.
Scientists of National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) have pointed out that the Arabian Sea has the world's thickest oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) depthwise, which is highly vulnerable to changes in the Indian monsoon wind.
OMZ refers to the stretch of seawater where oxygen levels are at the lowest. This zone occurs at depths of about 200m to 1,000m, depending on local circumstances.

Summer woes: Heat wave kills, but only 9 states have an action plan

Source: The Hindustan Times, 16th May, 2017

Only nine of the country’s 29 states and seven union territories have drawn up heat action plans (HAP) to deal with the killer weather.
Temperatures are soaring but India may not be best prepared to face the heat wave that has killed more than 6,000 people in the past four years, officials say.
Only nine of the country’s 29 states and seven union territories have drawn up heat action plans (HAP) based on guidelines of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Mega projects to end water woes

Source: Daily News, May 11, 2017

In his maiden budget speech for the 2017/18 financial year, the Minister for Water and Irrigation, Engineer Gerson Lwenge, told the National Assembly yesterday that the strategy will improve water access by 75 and 95 per cent in rural and urban areas respectively, come 2020.

Minister Lwenge told parliamentarians that the government will embark on renewable energy projects, as time for people to rely on ponds, streams and wells has expired owing to climate change, while hand pumps are not an effective option.

Exhibition on wheels: Science Express to cover around 70 stations across India

Source: The Times of India, May 10, 2017

The Science Express Climate Action Special (SECAS II), an innovative mobile science exhibition on a 16-coach AC train, will stop at 68 stations across the country in its current phase tour till September.
"The Science Express 9th Phase is covering around 70 stations for science popularisation in nearby areas," the Secretary Department of Science and Technology, Prof Ashutosh Sharma told PTI at a recent DST programme in the city.

China's President Xi says to uphold global climate deal

Source: Reuters, May 9, 2017

Chinese President Xi Jinping told French President-elect Emmanuel Macron in a phone call on Tuesday that he would uphold the Paris Agreement on curbing climate change.
China, the world's top emitter of greenhouse gases, and France should "protect the global governance achievements contained within the Paris Agreement on climate change", Xi told Macron, the Chinese foreign ministry said.

Laws to tackle climate change exceed 1,200 worldwide - study

Source: Reuters, Tuesday, 9 May 20177

Nations around the world have adopted more than 1,200 laws to curb climate change, up from about 60 two decades ago, which is a sign of widening efforts to limit rising temperatures, a study showed on Tuesday.
"Most countries have a legal basis on which future action can be built," Patricia Espinosa, the U.N.'s climate change chief, told a webcast news conference of the findings issued at an international meeting on climate change in Bonn, Germany.

Global trends in climate change legislation and litigation

Nations around the world have adopted more than 1,200 laws to curb climate change, up from about 60 two decades ago, which is a sign of widening efforts to limit rising temperatures shows this study by the London School of Economics legislation and litigation.

Antarctic ice sheet stable since warmer times: Study

Source: The Times of India, May 8, 2017

Central parts of Antarctica's ice sheet have been stable for millions of years, even when conditions were considerably warmer than present, new research suggests.
The study of mountains in West Antarctica may help scientists improve their predictions of how the region might respond to continuing climate change.
The findings could also show how ice loss might contribute to sea level rise.

Source: Independent (United Kingdom), May 8, 2017

The coal sector benefits from £356m a year in subsidies in the UK, despite the Government’s pledge to phase out use of the highly polluting fossil fuel, a report suggests. The multimillion-pound support is part of £5.3bn (€6.3bn) given to the coal industry every year by 10 European countries, which account for 84 per cent of the continent’s carbon dioxide emissions, the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) said.

Heat is on: Let’s not get Trumped on big carbon

Source: The Asian Age, May 8, 2017

We have just crossed April and temperatures are touching record highs. What has generated a lot of heat is the recent Executive Order issued by the US President Donald Trump, which attempts to roll back Obama-era climate change policies.
During the Presidential campaign, Mr Trump threatened to withdraw the US from the Paris agreement, although mercifully he hasn’t done that yet. The executive order will mainly impact the Clean Power Plan, which committed to reduce US CO2 emissions by 26-28 per cent by 2030, from the 2005 levels. It will also “unshackle” the fossil fuel industry, particularly coal and oil sectors.

India, China seek transparency at Bonn climate summit

Source: Business Standard, May 4, 2017

India and China, part of the Like-Minded Developing Countries group, have favoured greater transparency in climate negotiations in Germany's Bonn next week as these are crucial ahead of the Paris climate change agreement COP23, climate negotiators said on Wednesday.
The countries called for the 46th session on Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 46) to take up the matter of transparency and conflict of interest in its discussions while making a strong proposal to tackle the menace.
Citing a Corporate Accountability International report released in Germany on Tuesday, an Indian negotiator said there are close to 250 groups, organisations, associations and trade bodies that have access to influence and hamper the climate negotiation process.

Source: The World Bank, May 3, 2017

India and China, part of the Like-Minded Developing Countries group, have favoured greater transparency in climate negotiations in Germany's Bonn next week as these are crucial ahead of the Paris climate change agreement COP23, climate negotiators said on Wednesday.
The countries called for the 46th session on Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 46) to take up the matter of transparency and conflict of interest in its discussions while making a strong proposal to tackle the menace.
Citing a Corporate Accountability International report released in Germany on Tuesday, an Indian negotiator said there are close to 250 groups, organisations, associations and trade bodies that have access to influence and hamper the climate negotiation process.

Climate Change's Dangerous Milestone: Earth Passes 410 PPM CO2 Levels for the First Time in History

Source: Nature World news, May 2, 2017

The level of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our planet is more dangerous than ever, as Hawaii's Mauna Loa Observatory recorded CO2 levels passed 410 parts per million (ppm) on April 18. The Keeling Curve, University of California San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography program, which have been recording CO2 levels in the past years, assert that the latest number -- 410.28 ppm to be exact --- is the highest the world has ever seen. The researchers warned that 410 ppm is just the start of the terrifying records that will shock us in the upcoming months.

Gambia: Meccnr, Agrer Hold Consultative Meeting On Climate Change

Source: All Africa, May 2, 2017

The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources (MECCNR) in partnership with AGRER, a Belgian Team of Consultant with funding from African Development Bank and World Bank recently convened a stakeholder's consultative meeting on climate resilience for Technical Advisory Committees (TAC) in the North Bank Region.
The forum was meant to formulate a comprehensive transformational adaptation and mitigation investment plans to reduce and manage the country's high vulnerability to change, and to secure catalyst financing.
Speaking at the ceremony held at Kerewan, Mustapha Saidy, the deputy governor, North Bank Region, highlights government's commitment in combating the effects of climate change to enhance national development.

Ethiopia: Climate Change Could Drive Coastal Food Webs to Collapse

Source: All Africa, May 2, 2017

Coastal marine food webs could be in danger of collapse as a result of rising carbon dioxide levels, according to our new research. The study shows that although species such as algae will receive a boost, the positive effects are likely to be cancelled out by the increased stress to species further up the food chain such as predatory fish.
Food webs are essentially networks of species that interact with each other. The connection between them can stabilise systems, for instance by preventing particular species from becoming too common, thereby encouraging the presence of a wide range of species.

India’s killer heatwaves claim 4,620 recorded deaths

Source: http://metrovaartha.com, April 23, 2017

Climate-smart development is a rapidly growing area in Morocco, and indeed much of the world. It has simultaneously been proven to boost economic development and contribute to more sustainable economic development by reducing emissions and energy costs, creating jobs, and increasing economic opportunity. A World Bank Group (WBG) team, together with the support of Cluster Solaire’s and the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN), undertook a climate entrepreneurship ecosystem diagnostic in Morocco.

No heat relief in sight for India until monsoon arrives in June, July

Source: http://www.accuweather.com. April 19, 2017

Dangerous heat will continue to build across much of India this week, and there is no relief in sight.
The most intense heat will be found across northern India, stretching from West Bengal and Odisha to Rajasthan, the National Capital Region and Punjab.
Daily high temperatures will approach or exceed 43 C (110 F) in these areas with the warmest locations recording temperatures exceeding 46 C (115 F).
Other locations that will endure dangerous heat this week include Telangana, northern Andhra Pradesh and eastern Maharashtra.

Hot weather changing pattern of allergies

Source: The Times of India, April 18, 2017

In what appears to be an outcome of changing weather conditions, the pattern of allergies affecting people is showing a new trend in the city. Problems like allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis and eczema have started appearing in the months of February, March and April. Earlier, such allergies were generally reported between July and September.
Allergic rhinitis, a kind of lung allergy, is a case in point. "Heat, humidity, and pollen concentration in air trigger allergic rhinitis. While humidity was said to be the main reason for allergic rhinitis between July and September, now rising temperature is the cause for its cases being reported from February to April," said Prof Suryakant, head of pulmonary medicine department, KGMU.

Instances of cholera being reported in India this summer

Source: http://www.downtoearth.org.in. 19th April, 2017

Cholera, hitherto a rarely-reported disease in India, is raising its head this year in the country.
Odisha’s Ganjam district has reported an outbreak of the disease on April 14. The consumption of contaminated “Pana”, a ritualistic drink drunk on the occasion of the “Dandanata” festival observed on April 14, has led to the death of three persons in Kadua village of the district and many more have receivedtreatment at different medical centres. An inquiry by medical authorities and statements of victims have revealed that the “Pana” was prepared with water from a village pond being used for cleaning of body after defecation.
Other than Odisha, 36 other cases of cholera have been recorded in Hyderabad city limits. According to health workers, the disease could have been contracted because of mixing of contaminated water with ice, juice, beverages and other food items.

Where climate change is threatening the health of Americans

Source: http://edition.cnn.com. April 13, 2017

As President Donald Trump looks to curb the government's enforcement of climate regulations, experts are concerned about how the action might impact public health.
"The current federal political climate in the United States bodes ill for the future of the world's climate and by extension for the health of people around the world, Americans included," said Dr. Mona Sarfaty, director of the program on climate and health at George Mason University's Center for Climate Change Communication.

Heat: The ‘Silent Killer’ In India

Source: http://everylifecounts.ndtv.com. April 13, 2017

On a hot, humid afternoon on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, construction worker Sabitri Mahanand frets about increasingly “dangerous” summers. Carrying over a dozen bricks on her head, she fears getting sunstroke while at work, but home offers no respite either.
“When the day’s work is over, I’m so exhausted that I often don’t want to cook food but I have no choice,” said Ms Mahanand, 35, wiping the sweat from her face with a cloth wrapped around her waist. “I have to feed myself, my husband and my son.”

5 Reasons Why the Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan Saves Lives

Source: www.nrdc.org. April 6, 2017

For the fifth consecutive year, and as temperatures soar to 42°C (108°F), the city of Ahmedabad and partners released the ground-breaking Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan for 2017. As temperatures around the globe inch up degree by degree because of climate change, this western Indian city is working to protect local communities from rising temperatures and the deadly threat of extreme heat. It’s a model other cities might follow to safeguard their citizens from this increasing health danger.
After a devastating heat wave hit the city in 2010, experts estimated the heat contributed to more than 1,000 deaths. This week, the peak temperatures in Ahmedabad have been hovering between 37°C - 43°C (99°F - 109°F), offering a fitting backdrop to the challenges facing the city that is home to more than 7 million people.

We Must Better Communicate: The Health Risks of Climate Change

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com. March 31, 2017

“Climate change is a complicated topic, which makes it anathema to clear communication,” explained Dr. Ed Maibach, who runs the center for climate change communication at George Mason University. At the climate and health summit at the Carter Center, Maibach said most Americans associate climate change with “plants, penguins, and polar bears,” and view it as a “22nd century problem.” Climate change is seen as a “scientific, environmental, and political problem, but not a public health one.” Given only about one-third of Americans are environmentalists, framing climate change as a health problem first and foremost could help spur more action. Everyone is concerned with the health of their communities and children.

Climate change can take a toll on mental health, new report says

Source: www.washingtonpost.com. March 29, 2017

Climate change is not only harmful to our physical health — it can be debilitating for our mental health as well, according to a report published Wednesday.
Severe weather events and natural disasters linked to climate change have the most dramatic impact on mental health, according to the report by the American Psychological Association and EcoAmerica: Natural disasters cause intense negative emotions in people who are exposed to them, primarily fear and grief. Anxiety, depression and unhealthy behavior are also common responses. Some people, particularly those who experience tragic events, such as the loss of a loved one or repeated exposure to extreme weather, develop post-traumatic stress disorder.

Global climate goals within ‘feasible’ reach: Survey

Source: Indian Express. March 22, 2017

Led by cuts in coal-based power plants and thrust on renewable energy by India and China, the construction of such plants globally has witnessed a decline, indicating that global climate goals are within “feasible” reach, a new survey today said. The survey revealed that India and China have seen a significant slowdown in expansion of coal, which is a major cause of pollution and causes approximately 12 lakh deaths in India annually.
“For the first time since the beginning of the global coal boom a decade ago, developments in East and South Asia — in particular China’s wide-reaching restrictions on new coal plants and India’s indication that no new coal power is needed — appear to have brought global climate goals within feasible reach, raising the prospect that the worst levels of climate change might be avoided,” the survey said.

Here's how climate change is already affecting your health, based on the state you live in

Source: Business Insider. March 17, 2017

Climate change is already beginning to wreak havoc upon the planet. In the short term, we're facing more winter storms , miserably hot summers, and a longer allergy season. In the long term, entire coastlines will likely disappear , threatening communities and wildlife.
On a more local level, experts say the US will be unrecognizable in 100 years.
But just how is all of this affecting you - your state, your coastline - right now?

Climate change is making people sick, warns US doctors.

Source: http://zeenews.india.com. March 16, 2016

With the rising levels of air pollution, water contamination and a widening range for disease-carrying mosquitoes, a coalition of 11 US medical groups on Wednesday have warned that climate change is making people sick.
With the rising levels of air pollution, water contamination and a widening range for disease-carrying mosquitoes, a coalition of 11 US medical groups on Wednesday have warned that climate change is making people sick.
The US medical group also known as the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, represents more than half of US doctors.

‘Direct effects of climate change.

Source: The Pioneer. 2nd March 2017

Rising temperatures cannot be allowed to create a Martian climate on our planet Earth; the gradual warming up of our seasons is an early warning. The winter going by in the country, has been one of the mildest in years
Close on the heels of a feeble winter, this year is expected to have a much harsher summer, with above normal heat wave conditions that will in all probability register higher than ever temperatures across India. These predictions, released recently by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), also mentioned that the average temperatures in the season would not only be more than one degree Celsius above normal but also that the northwest region of the country would be the worst affected with the higher temperatures. If the IMD forecast comes true, the summer of 2017 would become the second consecutive year after 2016 to record severely high temperatures.

‘Climate change had direct impact on human health in recent years’

Source: The Indian Express, February 3, 2017

The Chandigarh unit of Indian Meteorological Society held a symposium on climate change and health on Wednesday. Surender Paul, director, Indian meteorological department, Chandigarh, said: “The recent years have witnessed a direct impact of climate change on human health, creating a need for medical professionals to work in the area of climate change to better understand the relationship between varying climate and disease pattern. The year 2016 was observed as the hottest year.”
Dr Ravindra Khaiwal, associate professor of environmental health, School of Public Health, PGIMER, delivered a lecture titled “Climate change and its impact on human health”. He pointed out that there was a need to initiate a mitigation action for societal benefits and stressed that there was a need to develop and disseminate a more robust early warning system to save human lives during disasters such as cyclones, floods, extreme heat and others.

El Nino May Make a Comeback as Australia Sees Pacific Warming

Source: http://www.bloombergquint.com/, January 31, 2017

Less than a year after the world said goodbye to one of the strongest El Ninos on record, forecasters are predicting the weather pattern may make a comeback.
Climate models indicate the central Pacific Ocean will probably warm over coming months, suggesting neutral conditions or El Nino are the most likely scenarios for the southern hemisphere winter-spring period, Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology said on its website. Five models show El Nino thresholds may be reached by mid-to-late winter, it said. Australia’s winter starts in June.
The 2015-16 El Nino was the strongest since the record event of 1997-98. The pattern reduced rainfall in the Indian monsoon, parched farmlands, and curbed production of cocoa in Ivory Coast, rice in Thailand and coffee in Indonesia. India’s Skymet Weather Services Pvt. said last week that El Nino showed signs of resurfacing in coming months.

NASA, NOAA data show 2016 warmest year on record globally

Source: http://climate.nasa.gov/, January 18, 2017

Earth’s 2016 surface temperatures were the warmest since modern recordkeeping began in 1880, according to independent analyses by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Globally-averaged temperatures in 2016 were 1.78 degrees Fahrenheit (0.99 degrees Celsius) warmer than the mid-20th century mean. This makes 2016 the third year in a row to set a new record for global average surface temperatures.

Short-lived greenhouse gases cause centuries of sea-level rise

Source: http://climate.nasa.gov/, January 13, 2017

Even if there comes a day when the world completely stops emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, coastal regions and island nations will continue to experience rising sea levels for centuries afterward, according to a new study by researchers at MIT and Simon Fraser University.In a paper published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the researchers report that warming from short-lived compounds — greenhouse gases such as methane, chlorofluorocarbons, or hydrofluorocarbons, that remain in the atmosphere from anywhere between less than a year to a few decades — can cause sea levels to rise for hundreds of years after the pollutants have been cleared from the atmosphere.

NASA releases eye-popping view of carbon dioxide

Source: http://climate.nasa.gov/, December 13, 2016

A new NASA supercomputer project builds on the agency's satellite measurements of carbon dioxide and combines them with a sophisticated Earth system model to provide one of the most realistic views yet of how this critical greenhouse gas moves through the atmosphere. Scientists have tracked the rising concentration of heat-trapping carbon dioxide for decades using ground-based sensors in a few places. A high-resolution visualization of the new combined data product – generated by the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, using data from the agency's Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) satellite build and operated by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California – provides an entirely different perspective.

Six changes after Paris climate deal: How the new global pact could affect your life

Source: The Indian Express, October 3, 2016

THE PARIS Agreement on climate change, which India ratified on Sunday, is close to becoming a reality now. In terms of its scope and impact, it is probably the most far-reaching international agreement ever. From here on, countries would strive to make every economic activity, anywhere in the world, compliant to climate change objectives. In India, as in the rest of the world, what this will lead to is change in where we live, how we travel, what we eat or wear, and even what we do in our personal and professional spaces. But while all of these may not be visible to the common people, some certainly will. So what will change, and what could?

India to ratify Paris agreement on climate change: Here is everything you need to know

Source: The Indian Express, September 26, 2016.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Sunday that India will ratify the COP21 Paris Agreement on climate change. The Paris Agreement is an international agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and has been ratified by 61 countries till now. As many as 191 countries had signed the agreement till the convention closed on December 12, 2015. India had not ratified it yet as it sought greater flexibility for its industrial and economic growth plans.

The US and China, two of the most industrialized countries in the world, have already ratified the document. India will become the 62nd country to ratify the Paris Agreement. The agreement, now that it has been ratified, will have a significant bearing on the energy sector and will have a huge impact on the industrial output.

Events

Upcoming

Capacity Building in Environmental Public Health Research

Date: 30th October - 1st November 2017

Venue: Seminar Hall, TERI, IHC, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

TERI is organizing a Workshop on "Capacity Building in Environmental Public Health Research" supported by Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from October 30th to November 1st, 2017 at India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi.

The capacity building workshop will teach participants on how to collect, analyze, and quantify health effects associated with environmental exposures. This workshop is a step towards building a bridge between the medical and environmental health field. We would introduce concepts of epidemiology and statistical techniques including data collection, analysis, and risk assessment and lifetime exposure of pollutants. Participants will gain understanding of methods needed to quantify health effects of environmental exposures. The participants are likely to be a mix of young research professionals from environment, health, and medical fields.

Past

Date: 20th- 21th October 2017

Venue: Taipei, Taiwan

Organized in partnership with the Health Promotion Administration of Taiwan’s Ministry of Health, the Taiwan Society of Health Promotion Hospitals, and Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, the conference will once again bring together health systems, health organizations, and hospitals from across the region to tackle the role of health care in addressing environmental and public health issues.

Venue: G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT), Pantnagar, Uttarakhand State

STEPS FOR SUBMISSION OF ON LINE APPLICATION FORM:

Login using your User Id & Password. To create User Id use "Create New Account" link on home page. If you have forgotten your concern password click on "Forgot password" link.

To Participate in Training :

After login, click on "Participate in Training" link and fill the pro-forma. Take a printout of duly signed application form and send it by post or upload scanned copy.

Heat Stress Management in Urban Areas (Case study in Delhi)

Date: 25th April 2017

Venue:Seminar Hall, TERI, IHC, Lodi Road

"TERI is currently engaged in a collaborative research project, HI-AWARE, where we are trying to understand the impacts of climate change on the livelihoods of people living in the glacier and snow-pack dependent river basins of the Himalayas. One such study basin where TERI is currently involved in research is the Upper Ganga.
In this basin, apart form focussing on multiple issues related to climate change and livelihoods we are also focussing on Heat Stress in Delhi, with our partners, Wageningen University and Research (WUR), Netherlands. Over the course of the previous year we have, through various methods, tried to capture indoor and outdoor temperature trends, to better understand heat stress/exposure patterns in Delhi.
As another gruelling summer approaches, we invite you, as a part of small expert group, to a half-day workshop to understand the means and methods to reduce household temperature stress. Presenting the initial impressions from our study in Delhi, we aim to initiate a dialogue on mainstreaming heat mitigation/adaptation strategies.
We are confident that your presence will add value to the event and look forward to seeing you on the 25th of April at the Seminar Hall, TERI, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

IA10 Health and environment conference

Date: 6th to 8th March 2017

Venue:Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Innovation is a central engine and driving force of economic growth and development - it can drive sustainable economic and social development for the region, while economies based on innovation and knowledge can help in promoting greater growth and spur entrepreneurship. The Arab World needs to embark on a journey of innovation, and prepare the ground for the rise of the creative revolution, creative class and creative society, for the region to transform their economies into full-fledged knowledge-based economies.

National Consultation on Planning Heatwave Management in India held on 21st September, 2016 at New Delhi.

The chief guest of the workshop was Mr. Kamal Kishore, Member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). He spoke about the recognition of heatwaves as a serious threat to our society, not just from the health perspective, the evolution of viewing heatwaves from the disaster perspective and the need for urgent management measures including looking towards indigenous solutions. He also released a roadmap document on the occasion which was developed under the guidance of eminent national and international experts including those from health, disaster, urban planning and environment fields Other speakers on the inaugural panel included but were not limited to Dr. R S Dhaliwal, Scientist F and Head, Non Communicable Diseases at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Mr. Jagan Shah, Director, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), Dr. D R Pattanaik, Indian Meteorological Society (IMS) and Dr. Sadhana Bhagwat, National Professional Officer, WHO India Country Office and G. K. Bhat, Chairperson, TARU Leading Edge The specific objectives of the consultation for heatwave management were to identify gaps in the research and policy, initiate a discussion on institutional leadership, integrate long-term urban planning measures, develop a partnership action plan and learn from the experience of current initiatives in other States. The consultation had technical sessions related to heat preparedness, sectoral perspective, learnings from international, state and city level experiences. These sessions were well attended with eminent chairs and speakers from US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), National Institutes of Health (USA), Health Canada, Oxford Policy Management, AIIMS and IIT amongst others. In conclusion the WHO Heat Action Plan and its relevance for India was discussed. Proceedings of the meeting will be made available shortly.